Don has sold a LOT of cartoons in his career. Each numbered cartoon or illustration on the left side of this Blog is from a DIFFERENT magazine, newspaper, etc. Let's see if we can find out the total number of publications (places) where Don's work has appeared . . . . . (An unnumbered posting is a duplicate publication.)

LAFF-A-DAY (King Features Syndicate # 2)

Recently we posted a series of cartoons which appeared in McNaught Syndicate's daily cartoon panel sold to newspapers across the U.S. Now we would like to show you several gags that were bought by King Features Syndicate for their LAFF-A-DAY panel. One bought by King was posted early in this blog (posting # 8). This cartoon was printed Nov. 4, 1994. Can you find Don in the picture?

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The Reason for Fewer Blog Posts

Can you guess from this picture what is keeping us from posting as often as we have before? Yep, we're moving. Don't give up on us. We'll be back as frequently as possible.

What is Cleo thinking?

a) When is the movie going to start? b) How do these things make people noses squeek? c) If it touches me I'll tear it to shreds.

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Self Portrait

Do You Remember This?

Spring has sprungThe grass is rizI wonder whereThe birdies is?

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It's spring in New York, but we can't prove it! 3/31/11

Don in Winter 2011

The pile of snow shown here is next to our driveway. The pile in front is even bigger, about 6 feet!

Hawaii or Alaska ?

Our lovely orchid plant blooms a couple of times a year. What a contrast to the outdoors!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Tired of My Back View?

So tickle me under the chin!

How Cleo Kitty Keeps Cool

It's been hot and humid in New York this summer, but Cleo knows how to cool her tummy on the granite countertop.

Caption This Picture: Cleo Says . . .

"I think a bug came with this plant."

To all who sent comments . . .

Thanks!

Cleo Kitty says . . .

200 cartoons? Now will you play with me?

Bogey's Snow Adventure

There's a story here!

This picture was taken a few years ago during a big snow storm. It's definitely appropriate for today's Long Island weather.
Bogey wanted to go outside so badly he drove us nuts! The problem was, the snow was piled so high we couldn't open the sliding door he usually used, so finally we let him out the front door. He jumped off the porch and immediately sank up to his nose. He literally swam (what a comical sight) through the snow around the house to the back deck where the sliding door is located. Now he wanted to come in very badly. We still couldn't open the slider, so he jumped up to the deck railing to holler at the window, got his picture taken, then we opened the window and a happy and wiser cat climbed in!

Pasta or Pleasure?

Cleo studies our selection of cookbooks. We suspect it's 100% Pleasure that interests her. After all cats do like their comfort.

How Many Cartoons and Illustrations?

Thanks to those who guessed how many cartoons Don has sold in his career -- so far. Our estimate is 12,000 +. Hard to believe, isn't it? Our basis for this number is a written record of sales from August 1966 (when wife Suzy started working for Don) through December 1994. This record is a simple list of sales on three-hole notebook paper. It is 253 pages with 25 lines per page. That's 6,325 sales. Add to that multiple-drawings in sales to magazines like Cracked, about 30 drawings for each of 32 jokes books, and the other 32 years before and after the list, and--well--we stopped counting at 12,000.

How many cartoons / illustrations has Don sold? What's your guess? (It's been almost 60 years.)

Another kitty that knows she's a present!

This is Cleo our current cat in residence.

Tracks (May 1988 - January 2004)

Tracks, named for stripes that looked like tire tracks, was a real darling. Born in our basement to Schwanzie, he was with us for almost 16 years. Here he is pretending to be a Christmas present. He was indeed a present.

Bogey (1989-2002)

Bogey was first son Errol's cat, then he came to live with Don and Suzy. He was very smart, but he did not like harmonica music. The pictures below show him on two different occasions trying to stop Don from playing. In the second one he's got hold of Don's wrist trying to pull his hand away from his mouth. He definitely knew how that ear-splitting noise was being made.

Pinkie (1970-1975)

This darling little kittie didn't have a long life due to a urinary tract infection, but he proved the adage "the good die young." He was the only real lap cat we've ever had. His name came from his very pink nose which even shows up on this old picture.

Giki and Jerry the Turtle

Giki came to live with us as a kitten in 1969 right after we moved to Port Washington. He lived many years though not as long as Tippy. Jerry, a box turtle lived with us for two years, laid two eggs and later escaped.

Tippy (1978-1996)

This was a typical pose for our first black and white cat. He loved to observe the squirrels in the back yard. He left the chasing to other cats.

Schwanzie's Four Boys (Born May 26, 1988)

Just a few days old, we named these kittens (l to r) Teddy, Tracks, Sugar & Champagne. Their adopted parents gave them other names - except Tracks who stayed with us.

Schwanzlos, Our Bobtail (1987-2003)

A very sweet cat. Born in Florida, she came to live with us at a very young age. She was a wonderful mother and a great pet!

Kitty Countdown: Spooky Cleo

Just in time for Halloween, Cleo (our current resident kitty) puts on her lighthouse costume. Cleo was born Feb. 2004 and was a foundling at the North Shore Animal League in Port Washington, NY.

The text above reads:

America's National Cartoonists Society poll their entire membership of leading cartoonists throughout the United States for their pick of the best of the year. This year, Don Orehek, was presented with a plaque for the "Best Magazine Gag Cartoonist".Don is one of our major contributors to Cartoons & Gags, Laugh Parade, Best Cartoons, Cartoon Capers, and Cartoon Laughs. A sample of his work is on the following pages. He loves to draw, and his drawing shows a love for old times, new times, and wild times.Don and his wife, Suzanne, and their children, Errol and Holly, live in Port Washington, New York.Love to draw and your drawing draws love.Congratulations, Don-- Robert Mende

Another Family Circle cartoon

Just in time for Father's Day. Here's to all you dads who help their kids with their homework! I know you're better at it than the dad in this cartoon.

Don's Trash Can

Don has had the same plastic trash can for more than 40 years. At some point he started putting any stickers on it that came his way. Now we suspect the stickers are the only thing holding it together. There also are a few bumper stickers in there. Remember how popular they were in the 70s? About 1975 we had a bumper sticker made up that said "READ CARTOONS." It stayed on our old 1966 Chevy Belair until it was towed away. (Trash can stickers may, but do not necessarily, reflect the opinions of the artist or his family.)

Don Rides a Camel

Who was more startled? Don or the camel? (See details under #17 Boy's Life.)

Another "Saturday Evening Post" Cartoon

"You were right, Dad, that mini-skirt was too short."

The cartoon above is one Don's personal favorites, published Sept. 7, 1968. "America, America" was a special feature in the Saturday Evening Post.

Don's award was for the "thirsty camel" gag which he sold after he finished school.

Award Winners at Cartoonists & Illustrators: 1949

Later the school was renamed the School of Visual Arts

Orehek and fellow sailor Aye (note the imaginary background)

Imagine the "Boot Pusher" asking Aye his name, and he replies "Aye, Sir."

Sailor Don at work for Public Information

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The two pictures below are from the National Cartoonists Society's annual Reuben Awards Weekend, May 22-24, 2009, Hollywood, California.

Cathy's "big pot"

At Cathy's Casa on Sunday cartoonists gladly drew her a souvenir for being such a generous hostess. Don's self-caricature is in the middle of the pot - so to speak.

That Hollywood Sign

Don and wife Suzy wanted a picture in front of the famous sign, but it isn't very accessible, so they settled for a picture in front of a picture of it.

Where Don works

Best Gag Cartoonist, 1982

One of four Best Magazine Gag Cartoonist awards presented to Don at the National Cartoonists Society's annual Reuben Award Weekend, Beverly Hills, CA, 1983. Other awards were for 1972, 1985 and 1986.

Don and Hugh Hefner

During Reuben Weekend, 1983

This is the first non-Orehek cartoon we've posted, but it is for a good cause! If a budding cartoonist out there applies for the scholarship because of our posting, please send us a comment and let us know.